Ex-mayor slams Coast council for abuse of process

Bill HoffmanWhether taking on developers hell-bent on destroying the Coast’s natural appeal or a Prime Minister indifferent to the plight of the poor, Bill Hoffman has never been one to mince his words. Bill’s been a journalist for 32 years, 29 of those on the Coast. Love him or hate him, he'll get you blogging.

THE decision by some Sunshine Coast councillors to have the CEO ask the State Government to consider a parcel of land west of Coolum for urban development "failed due process".

That is the claim of former Local Government Association of Queensland mayoral mentor Bob Abbot, who believes a system he established when mayor of the Sunshine Coast had been abused in this instance.

Mr Abbot had introduced strategic discussion forums as a place where staff and councillors could talk issues through.

"The officers then report to full council for councillors to make decisions," he said.

"That's the only place decisions hold water and it's the only way councillors can instruct staff. It's the only way for councillors to have their wants and desires become policy."

The council acknowledged yesterday that Mayor Mark Jamieson, director of planning Warren Bunker and head of strategic planning Steve Patey along with all other councillors had been informed on July 5 of the inclusion "of an item relating to the South East Queensland Regional Plan submissions on the agenda for the Strategic Discussion Forum the following day".

What remains unclear is whether they knew the meeting would result in a decision.

Cr Jamieson, who was absent on leave for the July 6 meeting, did not respond to phone calls about the matter yesterday.

Deputy Mayor Tim Dwyer, Cr Jason O'Pray, Mr Bunker or Mr Patey were also on leave when the meeting was held.

Mr Abbot said his advice to mayors had always been to follow the right process and that if they didn't like a policy to change the policy through due process.

"To write a letter to counteract another recent letter on the same issue and defying the planning scheme's philosophy and policies to me is an incredible situation.

"It's an awkward position to put the mayor in to make those sorts of decisions without his presence or his advice."

Mr Abbot, who also served on the LGAQ board, said for a minority of councillors at an informal meeting not chaired by the mayor, his deputy or nominated councillor to instruct the chief executive to do things was totally inappropriate.

Community and environment groups are furious at the forum's decision to write to the government asking it to investigate a parcel of cane land near Coolum and other areas of the Maroochy River north shore for urban development.

The move is not contemplated in the draft documents for the review of the State Government's SEQ Regional Plan urban footprint or the council's own planning scheme.

Greg Smith, president of peak residents' group OSCAR, said the action represented another fail for the council in terms of openness and transparency.

He said while it was completely understood information sessions would be held outside a public forum, such gatherings should not be making a decision to send a letter to the state government.

"That is the result of a decision and for the CEO to suggest it was of no consequence is a nonsense," Mr Smith said.

Sunshine Coast Environment Council campaigner Narelle McCarthy said sound planning policies and statutory provisions don't support further development of flood plain cane lands.